(57) An apparatus and a method for applying pressure by means of a compression sleeve
with a plurality of inflatable annular cells, a control block with pneumatic valves
and a pressurized fluid source. The most distal cell of the sleeve is designated by
number 1, while the most proximal cell is designated by number N. The control block
is adapted to perform a regular compression procedure starting by inflation of the
most distal cell or group of cells, and a preliminary compression procedure, preceding
the regular compression procedure, including a succession of cell inflation-deflation
subcycles. Each subcycle is performed at least once over a range of at least two adjacent
cells, starting with an initial cell different from cell N, progressing towards and
ending with cell N. The initial cell of the first subcycle is one of the most proximal
one-third of cells, and the initial cell of each next subcycle has a number monotonously
and gradually approaching 1.
|
|
